BMJ 2015;350:h1568 doi: 10.1136/bmj.h1568 (Published 25 March 2015)
Page 1 of 2
Observations
OBSERVATIONS BMJ CONFIDENTIAL
Alastair Henderson: Charming theatre enthusiast To whom would you most like to apologise? Probably my dad again (although I wasn’t particularly awful, I don’t think). The boy I bit on the arm at my preschool. And my children, for whatever it is this time.
If you were given £1m what would you spend it on? What was your earliest ambition? I never could have been a train driver, as I am colour blind. Aside from running the National Theatre (which is unlikely), I’ve been a lot more about serendipity than planned ambition.
Who has been your biggest inspiration? My parents, partner, children, and Bob Dylan.
What was your best career move? I’m not sure that I’ve ever really had a career as such, but it was probably moving to the NHS Confederation.
What was the worst mistake in your career? Career: ditto. Mistakes: lots, but nothing too horrendous that I can think of.
Bevan or Lansley? Who has been the best and the worst health secretary in your lifetime? There is a case for Alan Milburn in both categories—content good, culture bad.
Who is the person you would most like to thank and why? Probably my dad, as I never did particularly thank him. Also, Andrew Foster—currently chief executive of Wrightington, Wigan, and Leigh Foundation Trust—for his support and encouragement and for actually talking to me at NHS Conferences when I worked as a trade union official. For personal use only: See rights and reprints http://www.bmj.com/permissions
My children, I imagine—it seems to be what happens to any money I do have—but particularly on lots of expensive holidays.
Where are or were you happiest? Various times on holidays, in the UK and abroad with my family over the years.
What single unheralded change has made the most difference in your field in your lifetime? It’s not exactly unheralded, but I suppose electronic communication in all of its forms—email, internet, mobiles, social media, etc. It has entirely changed what we do, how we do it, and the pace at which we do it.
Do you support doctor assisted suicide? Yes.
What book should every doctor read? A Fortunate Man: the Story of a Country Doctor, by John Berger and Jean Mohr.
What poem, song, or passage of prose would you like mourners at your funeral to hear? Tangled up in Blue by Bob Dylan, and the third movement of Beethoven’s string quartet no 15 (Op 132).
What is your guiltiest pleasure? Cheese and onion crisps.
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BMJ 2015;350:h1568 doi: 10.1136/bmj.h1568 (Published 25 March 2015)
Page 2 of 2
OBSERVATIONS
Biography Alastair Henderson is chief executive of the Academy of Royal Medical Colleges, a body that sees itself as the “professional conscience” of doctors and has tentacles in advisory groups, standing committees, and policy forums too numerous to mention. Rare in the higher reaches of the advisory class, he started as a Unison official, moving on to the NHS Confederation, NHS Employers, and then the Academy. In 2012 he told the Financial Times that consultants in the future might not be as well paid as today’s, in a rare excursion into jungle country. Henderson is 57.
If you could be invisible for a day what would you do? Be childishly disruptive at a cabinet meeting or royal event.
Clarkson or Clark? Would you rather watch Top Gear or Civilisation? What television programmes do you like? Civilisation, I suppose. Clarkson and cars just bore me. I do like The Big Bang Theory.
Where does alcohol fit into your life? Not as much as I would like.
What is your pet hate? Inane celebrity culture linked to reality TV. Automated response phone systems. Tottenham Hotspur.
What would be on the menu for your last supper?
My collection of theatre programmes from the past 30 years or so.
No worries about blood sugar levels and fat, then! Cocktails, champagne, and red wine. Scallops, Thai main course and veg, the best New York cheesecake in the world with ginger ice cream, an amazing Stilton and French cheese board, and a packet of cheese and onion crisps.
What, if anything, are you doing to reduce your carbon footprint?
Do you have any regrets about becoming a health policy expert?
What is your most treasured possession?
Oh, dear; not enough, I am sure. I do try to switch the lights off and walk wherever I can.
What personal ambition do you still have? To carry on interesting work and travel a lot more—specifically, to Argentina and Namibia.
Summarise your personality in three words Witty, insightful, charming; but my daughter suggests grumpy, old, git.
For personal use only: See rights and reprints http://www.bmj.com/permissions
No. Working in healthcare has always been, and continues to be, fascinating and motivating.
If you weren’t in your present position what would you be doing instead? Not a clue. Plenty of things I probably wouldn’t be, but otherwise it’s serendipitous. Cite this as: BMJ 2015;350:h1568 © BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 2015
Subscribe: http://www.bmj.com/subscribe
Page 1 of 2
Observations
OBSERVATIONS BMJ CONFIDENTIAL
Alastair Henderson: Charming theatre enthusiast To whom would you most like to apologise? Probably my dad again (although I wasn’t particularly awful, I don’t think). The boy I bit on the arm at my preschool. And my children, for whatever it is this time.
If you were given £1m what would you spend it on? What was your earliest ambition? I never could have been a train driver, as I am colour blind. Aside from running the National Theatre (which is unlikely), I’ve been a lot more about serendipity than planned ambition.
Who has been your biggest inspiration? My parents, partner, children, and Bob Dylan.
What was your best career move? I’m not sure that I’ve ever really had a career as such, but it was probably moving to the NHS Confederation.
What was the worst mistake in your career? Career: ditto. Mistakes: lots, but nothing too horrendous that I can think of.
Bevan or Lansley? Who has been the best and the worst health secretary in your lifetime? There is a case for Alan Milburn in both categories—content good, culture bad.
Who is the person you would most like to thank and why? Probably my dad, as I never did particularly thank him. Also, Andrew Foster—currently chief executive of Wrightington, Wigan, and Leigh Foundation Trust—for his support and encouragement and for actually talking to me at NHS Conferences when I worked as a trade union official. For personal use only: See rights and reprints http://www.bmj.com/permissions
My children, I imagine—it seems to be what happens to any money I do have—but particularly on lots of expensive holidays.
Where are or were you happiest? Various times on holidays, in the UK and abroad with my family over the years.
What single unheralded change has made the most difference in your field in your lifetime? It’s not exactly unheralded, but I suppose electronic communication in all of its forms—email, internet, mobiles, social media, etc. It has entirely changed what we do, how we do it, and the pace at which we do it.
Do you support doctor assisted suicide? Yes.
What book should every doctor read? A Fortunate Man: the Story of a Country Doctor, by John Berger and Jean Mohr.
What poem, song, or passage of prose would you like mourners at your funeral to hear? Tangled up in Blue by Bob Dylan, and the third movement of Beethoven’s string quartet no 15 (Op 132).
What is your guiltiest pleasure? Cheese and onion crisps.
Subscribe: http://www.bmj.com/subscribe
BMJ 2015;350:h1568 doi: 10.1136/bmj.h1568 (Published 25 March 2015)
Page 2 of 2
OBSERVATIONS
Biography Alastair Henderson is chief executive of the Academy of Royal Medical Colleges, a body that sees itself as the “professional conscience” of doctors and has tentacles in advisory groups, standing committees, and policy forums too numerous to mention. Rare in the higher reaches of the advisory class, he started as a Unison official, moving on to the NHS Confederation, NHS Employers, and then the Academy. In 2012 he told the Financial Times that consultants in the future might not be as well paid as today’s, in a rare excursion into jungle country. Henderson is 57.
If you could be invisible for a day what would you do? Be childishly disruptive at a cabinet meeting or royal event.
Clarkson or Clark? Would you rather watch Top Gear or Civilisation? What television programmes do you like? Civilisation, I suppose. Clarkson and cars just bore me. I do like The Big Bang Theory.
Where does alcohol fit into your life? Not as much as I would like.
What is your pet hate? Inane celebrity culture linked to reality TV. Automated response phone systems. Tottenham Hotspur.
What would be on the menu for your last supper?
My collection of theatre programmes from the past 30 years or so.
No worries about blood sugar levels and fat, then! Cocktails, champagne, and red wine. Scallops, Thai main course and veg, the best New York cheesecake in the world with ginger ice cream, an amazing Stilton and French cheese board, and a packet of cheese and onion crisps.
What, if anything, are you doing to reduce your carbon footprint?
Do you have any regrets about becoming a health policy expert?
What is your most treasured possession?
Oh, dear; not enough, I am sure. I do try to switch the lights off and walk wherever I can.
What personal ambition do you still have? To carry on interesting work and travel a lot more—specifically, to Argentina and Namibia.
Summarise your personality in three words Witty, insightful, charming; but my daughter suggests grumpy, old, git.
For personal use only: See rights and reprints http://www.bmj.com/permissions
No. Working in healthcare has always been, and continues to be, fascinating and motivating.
If you weren’t in your present position what would you be doing instead? Not a clue. Plenty of things I probably wouldn’t be, but otherwise it’s serendipitous. Cite this as: BMJ 2015;350:h1568 © BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 2015
Subscribe: http://www.bmj.com/subscribe
